The Seattle Seahawks are starting the preseason off on the right foot. It may not have been the most thrilling game of football played, but it was a great start to earn the 16-3 defensive victory over a Chargers team that is eventually going to be defined by its offense.

Ultimately, no season is determined by the results of a Week 1 preseason game. Plenty of eventual Super Bowl champions have lost this game, and plenty of teams who end up picking No. 1 overall win this one. But that's not to say there aren't those who stand out, for good or for ill, in these types of games.

Without further ado, here are the Studs and Duds from Seattle's preseason debut.

No. 1 Stud - Byron Murphy II

It may be the first official NFL action in his career, but it appears defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is coming as advertised. Seattle's top pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Murphy was taken No. 16 overall and he's already showing why the Seahawks did not trade back in the first round. A quite night on the stat sheet does not reflect his impact. In the box score, Murphy is credited with only one tackle, which went for a loss.

Murphy might have had a bigger night... if he wasn't constantly being double and even triple teamed by Los Angeles. These Chargers may not be the starters, but even they had no answers for Seattle's top-billed rookie defensive lineman.

No. 1 Dud - Dee Eskridge

One player who is most assuredly going to have to earn his keep with the Seattle Seahawks this preseason is wide receiver Dee Eskridge. Originally a second round selection in the 2021 NFL draft, the speedy receiver has made minimal impact as a professional. Injuries derailed his first two campaigns, and his 2023 was marred by a six-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy stemming from a domestic violence arrest in February of that year.

Needless to say, this feels like Eskridge's last shot with Seattle. Unfortunately, he did not do much Saturday night. Yes, he did have one explosive rush for 22 yards, showcasin his speed. But he did not haul in any of the three passes thrown his way. There is still work that Eskridge needs to get done in the next couple of weeks.

No. 2 Stud - PJ Walker

Numbers never lie but they do not always tell the full story. Such is the case for Seahawks quarterback PJ Walker, who took over in the third quarter against the Chargers. Statistically, Walker finished the day completing 4-of-10 passes for 61 yards. Not exactly eye-popping. But what is impressive is when he had those completions.

Offensively, the Seahawks had only one scoring drive in the second half. But on that drive, Walker completed two critical third-and-long passes. The first one third-and-16, Walker found Eason Winston Jr. for 21 yards. Later, on a similar third-and-15, Walker connected with Cody White for 16 yards. These conversions kept the scoring drive alive, which resulted in a field goal to essentially put the game out of reach with the 16-3 margin.

No. 2 Dud - Goal line offense

The Seahawks ran the ball exceptionally well overall on Saturday night. As a team, they rushed for 156 yards on 39 total carries. The yardage output and commitment to establishing the run was certainly encouraging to witness. However, one area they did struggle with was down on the Chargers' goal line.

Out of halftime, the Seahawks marched the ball all the way down to LA's one-yard line. Unfortunately, they were stuffed on back to back runs, causing a turnover on downs and a missed opportunity for points. Ultimately, the defense did bail out the offense because with how they were playing, all the Seahawks had to do was score more than three points... which of course, they did. Still, leaving points on the field is never a good thing, even in an exhibition game. Seattle's offensive line unable to get that final push in such a crucial area of the field is further indication why they went after free agent center Connor Williams.

No. 3 Stud - Laviska Shenault Jr.

The Seahawks' return game has been lacking a legitimate threat for quite some time now. Perhaps this is changing with the addition of the versatil return man/wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr.

Against the Chargers, Shenault Jr. showcased all he can help bring to the Seahawks. He caught two passes for 31 yards, he rushed the ball once for five yards on Seattle's first scoring drive, and he took a kickoff all the way to Seattle's 44-yard line.

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This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Studs and Duds from Seahawks 16-3 preseason win over Chargers